Scientist (Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The vision of the Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care (PPC) is to advance health for all by anticipating change and integrating promotion, prevention and care across all health and disease are as to address today's greatest health burdens and tomorrow's challenges​.Within PPC Division, the Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent and Ageing Health (LHR) aims to advance a more just and equitable world where human rights are upheld and every person can achieve health, realize their rights, and live with dignity across the life course by harnessing science, generating and interpreting evidence, monitoring global trends, establishing international norms, and shaping integrated systems that enable individuals to thrive from birth through older age. LHR hosts the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP) which is the main instrument within the United Nations system for identifying research priorities on sexual and reproductive health and rights; for promoting, conducting, evaluating and coordinating related interdisciplinary research; for collaborating with countries to build national capacity to conduct research; and for promoting the use of research results in policy making and sexual and reproductive health programmes. HRP is operated from the World Health Organization's Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health and Ageing Health(LHR).The Department draws on HRP research and global expertise to generate evidence, strengthen health systems, and impact lives through work to set norms and standards and develop global guidelines, and to support programme development in sexual and reproductive health and rights. More information about LHR and HRP can be found athttps://www.who.int/hrp.The Rights and Equality Across the Life Course Unit (REL) works on generating data, evidence, norms and strengthening health systems to address adolescent sexual and reproductive health, harmful gender practices (FGM, Child marriage),violence against women and girls, sexual health and menopause; and integrating equality, rights and sexuality across all areas of LHR. It also addresses the SRHR of populations that face intersecting forms of discrimination, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, and in humanitarian contexts
 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Focusing on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights the incumbent will: 

• Serve as the lead and senior technical and scientific reference in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights among the peer community, Member States, HRPUN cosponsors and other UN Agencies, WHO Regional and Country Offices, and other stakeholders and will provide authoritative advice on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights when requested.
• Oversee, develop and implement a research agenda and research priorities, informed by contemporary global health challenges, the scientific expertise and literature, recommendations of HRP advisory bodies, input from Member States and cosponsoring agencies, colleagues, managers and other stakeholders. Based on research priorities developed, the incumbent will ensure the development and establishment of strategic and operational plans for research and human capital development in this area.
• Lead and oversee research activities, including:(i) the conceptualization and development of research protocols, (ii) identification and recruitment of national partner research institutions, (iii) conceptualization and production of research agreements,(iv)organization of scientific meetings, (v) coordinate the facilitation of training workshops, (vi) conducting research site monitoring visits, (vii) collaborations with data management companies or organizations, (viii) oversight of the network of institutions participating in the research projects,(ix) analysis, write-up and publication of results, (x) evaluation of processes and results in preparation for subsequent research projects.
• Coordinate the strengthening of the capacity of research centres to ensure high-quality research that is compliant with WHO Institutional scientific and ethical standards.
• Synthesize evidence, carry out and commission systematic reviews of the literature in the field, input to evidence-based clinical and managerial guidelines.
• Ensure the writing and preparation of technical progress reports to governing and advisory bodies, WHO reporting requirements, and donors.
• Ensure adequate publication, conceptualize and draft manuscripts in the scientific literature of research outputs, and lead related communications activities to strengthen the dissemination, adaptation and use of WHO and HRP outputs by WHO Member States, working in close collaboration with the HRP communications team and the WHO Department of Communications.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with governments, NGOs, private sector, researchers, and other stakeholders to generate and use evidence for increased access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Lead fundraising activities for increased financial support in this area of work.
• Carryout other tasks, as required by the Unit Head and Director.
   

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced level university degree in public health, epidemiology, or another field that contributes to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Desirable: Ph.D. in a field related to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights.
 

Experience

Essential: At least 10 years of direct experience in international research and research management relating to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, including experience in low- and middle-income countries. At least 5 years of direct experience in leading research projects in adolescent sexual and reproductive health. At least 7 years of direct experience in developing policies and/or implementing programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights, including on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Desirable: Working experience in a UN agency or an international nongovernmental organization in low- and middle-income countries.
 

Skills

• Expert knowledge of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights and its public health aspects.
• Strong research leadership, analytical and scientific writing skills, as evidenced by a track record of peer-review scientific publications in the area of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. 
• Fundraising knowledge and skills, as evidenced by previous success in mobilizing resources.
• Strong communication and diplomatic skills.
   

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Ensuring the effective use of resources
• Creating an empowering and motivating environment
   

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Expert knowledge of French. Intermediate knowledge of other UN Language.

 

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 103,165 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 7686 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Staff members separated due to the 2025 Prioritization and Realignment Process will receive special consideration according to the applicable regulatory framework.
• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to a fixed-term position in the International Professional category (Grades P1-D2) are eligible for Geographical Mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

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